The Indian government has strongly condemned the theft of a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne. Victoria police are investigating the incident and have issued warnings to scrap metal dealers to watch for the stolen statue. Randhir Jaiswa, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said on Tuesday night: "We strongly condemn the vandalization and removal of the Mahatma Gandhi statue located at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne by unidentified people." He added, "We have strongly raised the matter with Australian authorities and urged them to take immediate action to recover the missing statue and hold the culprits accountable." Vasan Srinivasan, chair of the Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust, which owns the centre, stated the statue was donated by the Indian government in 2021. He called Gandhi an "icon of India" who believed in "people power" and said, "We have lost it now. There is only one in Victoria." Srinivasan does not believe the theft was racially motivated as there was no graffiti or slogans at the scene. The statue had been targeted before: in 2021, it faced an attempted beheading on the day then Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled it. It was also vandalised with anti-Gandhi and anti-Indian graffiti in 2023 and 2024, which led to parts of the centre being removed. Gandhi, who died in 1948, is known as a key leader of India’s independence and a symbol of non-violent resistance. His statues have stirred controversy overseas over accusations of "well-documented anti-black racism." Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said, "We stand with Victoria’s Indian community at this time. Victoria is a proudly multicultural state and there is zero tolerance for any acts that target and disrespect cultural monuments." Evan Mulholland, opposition spokesperson for multicultural affairs, expressed "deep support and solidarity" with the Indian-Australian community, saying, "Our multicultural communities should feel safe and respected in every suburb of this state." Victoria police believe three people were involved. A spokesperson said, "Officers were told the offenders used an angle grinder to cut the statue." The state's multicultural affairs minister has been contacted for comment.